- NSYNC star Lance Bass says he has been diagnosed with diabetes.
- The musician said he is learning how to manage his symptoms with medication, regular exercise and adjusting his diet.
- Experts say insulin sensitivity naturally decreases and our metabolism slows as we age, increasing our risk of developing diabetes.
- You can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes by exercising after meals, watching your carbohydrate intake, and finding activities that improve your mental health..
Lance Bass (44) recently revealed that he was diagnosed with diabetes.
“I developed diabetes due to the effects of the new coronavirus infection and am seriously thinking about how to control it,” the NSYNC band member said in an interview. people. “Learning what to eat, when to eat, and when to take insulin. It’s all been tough lately.”
Since her diagnosis, Bass has prioritized her health and made adjustments to her lifestyle.
Starr said: So I train when I can,” he said, adding that his main form of exercise is running on a treadmill and full-body strength training.
Bass drinks a lot of water to manage his diabetes.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned is to drink a lot of water. I think I drink too much water. [but] I need to drink more than that,” he said.
Additionally, the singer takes care of her mental health through her love of meditation and hiking.
“I learned meditation, which is really great for me. It just messes with my brain for a few minutes,” she says. [and] I love meditating in the morning,” he said.
It is unclear whether Bass was diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. However, according to the CDC; National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2020Adults between the ages of 45 and 64 are the demographic most likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
So why do healthy adults develop diabetes at this age?
“It’s a common misconception that you only get type 2 diabetes if you’re overweight,” says the registered dietitian. Talia Pellegrini.
“The phrase ‘skinny fat’, also known as ‘skinny fat’ Monday“Metabolic obesity, short for normal weight, refers to being at risk for diseases such as diabetes without being overweight or obese,” she explained. “Skinny fat” is used to describe visceral fat, the fat that lies deep beneath the skin and accumulates within the abdominal wall and around organs such as the kidneys and intestines.
Because it’s deep under your skin and invisible to the naked eye, you may not realize you’re at risk.
However, MONW is a risk factor for diabetes as it can affect insulin resistance and, in turn, cause diabetes.
“Some people may be at risk for diabetes even if they are not overweight due to poor eating habits, a sedentary work life, and not getting enough exercise,” Pellegrini said.
Decreased metabolism with age may also be a contributing factor. “As we age, our metabolism slows down and we are more likely to gain weight,” Pellegrini explained.
“As we age, we also have an increased risk of developing sarcopenia, an age-related decline in muscle mass and strength, which is also a contributing factor to the development of type 2 diabetes,” Pellegrini added.
Moreover, Holly RothschildRegistered Nutritional Therapist integrative wellnessHe says the risk of developing diabetes increases as we age because insulin sensitivity (our body’s responsiveness to insulin, which regulates blood sugar) naturally decreases.
“However, there are many factors that increase the risk, including ethnicity, family history, being overweight or obese, a sedentary lifestyle, poor sleep, shift work, smoking, and excess alcohol,” Rothschild said. .
Certain medications and other medical conditions can also increase your risk of polycystic ovary syndrome, heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.
Since her diabetes diagnosis, Bass has taken many steps to prioritize her health, including increasing her activity, drinking more water, and taking care of her mental health.
Rothschild said it’s right to focus on these three areas while managing diabetes.
“Exercise is a great tool for increasing insulin sensitivity and naturally lowering blood sugar levels, especially exercise that promotes muscle mass,” she explained. “This is because the more muscle you have, the more cells you have to store glucose, which means less glucose remains in your bloodstream and less glucose is converted and stored as fat.”
What about hydration? Rothschild said that when you become dehydrated, your blood sugar levels rise.
Considering the body’s mechanism for excreting excess sugar through the urine, drinking plenty of water is essential to keeping sugar levels in the body at appropriate levels.
Meditation may not seem like a particularly effective strategy for managing diabetes, but Rothschild said he disagrees.
She pointed out that stress is a major factor in causing insulin resistance (a condition in which the body does not respond to insulin and cannot convert glucose into energy) because it affects hormones.
“Chronic stress can have such a profound effect on blood sugar levels because the stress hormone cortisol dampens insulin response,” she points out.
Health experts say a good start is to follow Bass’ lead and start exercising more.
“Exercise can help reduce the rise in blood sugar levels, especially after meals, so try to move your body every day,” advises Pellegrini.
“If you don’t exercise much or at all, start small. Taking a short walk after a meal may feel like an achievable goal you can stick to,” she suggested.
It is also important to improve the overall health of your diet.
“Small changes to your daily diet can help maintain healthier blood sugar levels,” says Pellegrini.
For example, you can add one more fruit or vegetable to your daily diet or replace white bread with brown bread, which is high in fiber.
Rothschild said he recommends eating lean protein and healthy fats at every meal.
“These foods and macronutrients don’t affect blood sugar levels in the same way as ultra-processed foods or traditional carbohydrates,” she explained.
She also recommended being more mindful of your carbohydrate intake.
“If you routinely have cereal for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and potatoes, rice, or pasta for dinner, consider making one of these meals traditional carb-free,” she advises. Did.
Sleep and stress are also areas that can be improved.
“Decreased sleep quality and quantity directly affects how the body processes sugar and may contribute to insulin resistance in the long term,” Rothschild noted.
Avoiding eating late at night is one way to improve your sleep quality.
Meanwhile, Rothschild says stress management should be a priority for everyone. “I focus on nurturing myself by finding what works for me, whether it’s spending time in nature, deep diaphragmatic breathing, singing, dancing, grounding, yoga, tai chi, cold water swimming, or mindful coloring. Please,” she said.
Doing so provides many benefits, including improved digestion, lower inflammation levels, and improved sleep quality, all of which reduce your risk of diabetes.
Lance Bass’ diagnosis challenges the preconceived notion that diabetes is a disease that only affects people who are overweight or obese.
The risk of diabetes increases with age, but it can be reduced.
Adopting a diet that prioritizes protein and healthy fats, exercising regularly, and managing stress are all ways you can reduce your risk.